Gov. John Hickenlooper and Mayor Michael Hancock both had plenty of nice things to say about Girl Scouts when they spoke at a reception marking the organization’s 100th anniversary. The best tribute, though, was the presentation of Generation Wow!, 100 young ladies who represent the best that Girl Scouts of Colorado has to offer.

“I know the power and distinction Girl Scouts bring to our nation,” Hancock said. “You are so much more than cookies.” Hickenlooper commended Girl Scouts for giving his free-spirited sister “A space to be herself. She was a Brownie and a Girl Scout, and both groups enabled her to celebrate and lift up her talent.”

The Generation Wow! Scouts were chosen by an outside committee of Colorado civic and community leaders. The honorees,” said Megan Ferland, the president and chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Colorado, “Demonstrate strong leadership skills through service and learning projects. They exhibit achievement in developing a healthy attitude, both mind and body, and demonstrate exceptional interpersonal skills in teamwork, conflict resolution and goal setting. They embody the mission of Girl Scouting and are definitely more than cookies, camp and crafts.”

The reception at which they were honored was chaired by Judi Wolf, Christine Benero, Toti Cadavid, Faye Wilson Tate and Erin Yoshimura, all of whom are past recipients of the Girl Scouts Women of Distinction award. 7News anchor Theresa Marchetta, the mother of three Girl Scouts and a 2010 Woman of Distinction, was mistress of ceremonies.

Benero, the president/ceo of Mile High United Way, showed up in the same sash she had worn as a Girl Scout in Littleton during the 1970s. “When I was putting it on, I noticed that one of the badges is pinned on. I guess I didn’t have time to sew it on back then, and I didn’t have a needle handy today.”

Generation Wow! Scout Angela Natrasevschi talked about her service project, a campaign to educate her peers about methamphetamine, and said one of the most important things she has learned from Scouting is that “Helping others helps me.”